Airports Turn into a Gold Mine for Criminal

Sheaikh  Umar Faruque Al Hadi: Gold and various other commodity-smuggling syndicates have once again become highly active. Smuggling networks are operating across the country’s airports and different border areas. Although low-level operatives are occasionally arrested in such incidents, the powerful masterminds operating behind the scenes continue to remain beyond the reach of law enforcement for mysterious reasons.
This allegation has been made by crime experts.
Recently, the smuggling of gold and various illegal goods through the country's airports has increased at an alarming rate. Drug consignments are also arriving. Among them is Kush, a relatively new drug considered extremely harmful to the human body.
According to information from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), four major consignments of Kush, weighing more than 17 kilograms in total, were seized at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport during the last 10 days of August alone. Throughout August, one consignment after another of the drug was seized at the airport, with Indian nationals allegedly involved in each of the incidents.
Multiple intelligence agencies say that several influential domestic and foreign groups are active behind Bangladesh's gold-smuggling syndicates. Around 50 international mafia figures or “godfathers” are believed to be among the key operators, controlling the entire network from the Middle East—particularly Dubai—as well as Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
According to investigation reports prepared by law enforcement agencies and various intelligence organisations, the principal godfathers behind the smuggling operations are highly influential individuals.
The names of several top smugglers have emerged in investigations and charge sheets prepared at different times by the police administration, the Detective Branch (DB) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). At least 15 of these alleged godfathers are reportedly operating the entire business from Dubai and other Middle Eastern countries.
Among those identified are Md. Nazrul Islam Liton, Md. Ali, Riaz Chairman, Jasim Uddin, Azad Ahmed, Masud Kabir, Md. Raihan Ali and Saleh Ahmed. Many of them were previously arrested in Bangladesh but later secured bail and fled abroad, from where they allegedly continue to keep their networks operational.
One of the prominent names is Abu, also known as “Gold Abu.” His name first appeared prominently in the media in 2014 following a series of major consignments seized at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Abu, who reportedly rose from being a puffed-rice seller to owning assets worth several hundred crore taka, became one of the biggest names in the world of smuggling.
Another name on the CID list is Monir Hossain, also known as “Golden Monir.” He reportedly accumulated enormous wealth through illegal gold smuggling after beginning his career as an employee at a clothing shop. He later became involved in the real estate business. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested him after uncovering information about his vast empire in the Badda area of Dhaka and alleged irregularities involving numerous plots of land belonging to the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK).
The list also includes H. M. Shamsul Huda. The CID reportedly identified him as a key figure in smuggling large quantities of gold from Singapore, Dubai and Malaysia through Bangladesh into India. A large syndicate of 56 people allegedly operated under his leadership. The group reportedly maintained direct connections with Nepali national Gauranga and several smugglers based in Kolkata, India, who allegedly worked to establish smuggling routes.
According to intelligence reports and information from law enforcement agencies, the gold-smuggling system is highly organised and divided into several layers. These include financing and procurement. Foreign currency is allegedly collected from expatriate workers through the hundi system, and the money is then used to purchase scrap gold or gold bars from Dubai or Singapore.
In addition, some dishonest officials and employees of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, including cabin crew, catering staff and cleaners, are allegedly directly involved with the syndicate. Gold is reportedly removed from aircraft by concealing it under seats, inside toilets or in catering trolleys in an attempt to evade Customs surveillance.
Several money-exchange establishments in Uttara, Motijheel and Paltan are also allegedly involved in handling smuggling-related funds and hundi transactions, helping convert illicit money into apparently legitimate funds.
Some dishonest traders operating in areas such as Tantibazar, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, allegedly operating behind the cover of jewellery businesses, reportedly purchase a portion of the smuggled gold, melt it down and produce new gold bars.
A significant portion of the gold arriving from the Middle East is not intended for sale in Bangladesh. Instead, it is allegedly brought into the country for eventual smuggling into the Indian market. Bangladesh is reportedly being used primarily as a relatively safe transit route.
After being taken out of the airport, the gold bars are generally transported by road and smuggled into India through border areas in Jashore, Satkhira, Chuadanga and Jhenaidah. Gold consignments also reportedly enter Dhaka through Cox's Bazar and Chattogram from Myanmar.
Over the past 14 years, more than 1,345 cases related to gold smuggling have reportedly been filed in Bangladesh. However, most of these cases were filed under the Special Powers Act of 1947.
Experts and the CID believe that because cases are not generally filed under anti-money-laundering laws, it has not been possible to trace and destroy the illegal sources of funds and financial empires of the alleged godfathers. As a result, while couriers are arrested, the main masterminds behind the operations continue to remain beyond the reach of law enforcement.
Meanwhile, a new drug known as Kush has recently been seized repeatedly at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
August 18: Two Indian nationals allegedly abandoned a trolley bag and fled from the Green Channel area of the airport's arrival hall. Later, 4 kilograms and 180 grams of Kush were recovered from the trolley.
August 22: An Indian national named Hossain Abdul Kader Sheikh, who arrived from Bangkok on a Thai Airways flight, was detained at the Green Channel with 3 kilograms of Kush.
August 24: Two Indian nationals, Sanowar Ali and Imtiaz Ahmed, arriving on another Thai Airways flight, were searched and 5 kilograms and 40 grams of Kush allegedly concealed beneath sarees were seized.
August 27: Acting on intelligence information, authorities arrested two more Indian nationals, Abdul Rahman and Mohammad Iqbal Ansari, at the airport with 5 kilograms and 120 grams of Kush.
Sources concerned say that smugglers carrying gold, drugs and other illegal goods are being detected at airports on a regular basis. In particular, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram are allegedly being used as major transit points or key routes for the movement of large consignments.
Changes in India's customs policies and the increase in international gold prices have reportedly made smuggling syndicates significantly more active.
The investigation found that international and domestic mafia syndicates, a section of dishonest gold traders, and some corrupt officials and employees of airport and border security agencies are allegedly involved in gold smuggling.
According to reports published by the CID, Customs Intelligence and the Detective Branch, the main masterminds or “godfathers” behind smuggling operations generally remain behind the scenes, while only low-level operatives or ordinary couriers are arrested at airports.
There are allegations that the godfathers behind gold-smuggling syndicates have remained beyond the reach of law enforcement for a long time. Although law enforcement agencies reportedly possess information and evidence about them, they are not being arrested for reasons that remain unclear. Again and again, only the low-level operatives are being caught.
Multiple intelligence agencies say that the alleged godfathers are so influential that investigators sometimes become hesitant after discovering their identities while investigating smuggling cases. Such incidents, according to officials involved in investigations, have reportedly continued for a long time.
In some cases, the principal masterminds are allegedly able to remain hidden by influencing investigators.
A CID official said that in order to prevent the illegal import and subsequent smuggling of gold, influential industrialists and powerful individuals allegedly involved in such activities must be brought under the law.
According to the official, some of these individuals are so influential that merely hearing their names can intimidate people. They allegedly possess enough influence to affect the transfer, promotion or dismissal of senior officials.
It is also alleged that certain individuals associated with owners of some of the country's leading industrial groups and private airlines are involved in gold smuggling. Many investigators reportedly became concerned after encountering such information while investigating gold-smuggling cases.
Gold smuggling through aircraft is allegedly facilitated through the collusion of some officials and employees of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Civil Aviation and Customs. According to the allegations, between 60 and 65 tonnes of gold enter the country every year.
However, smaller consignments of gold continue to be seized regularly. From 2021 to March 2023, Customs Intelligence reportedly seized 57 maunds of gold bars and gold ornaments. The seized gold has been deposited with Bangladesh Bank.
Beyond this, a significant quantity of gold has allegedly entered the country through illegal channels and subsequently been smuggled into neighbouring countries.
The enormous amount of money required to finance the movement of such large quantities of gold is allegedly supplied by top-level industrialists and businesspeople in the country. However, no action is reportedly being taken against these financiers. As a result, the alleged godfathers continue to remain behind the scenes.
According to sources from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate and the police, more than 200 people were arrested between 2021 and April 2023 on allegations of involvement in gold smuggling.
Among them were employees of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Civil Aviation. During this period, 318 cases related to gold smuggling were filed. Disciplinary action was reportedly taken against 260 employees of Biman and Civil Aviation. However, the alleged financiers remain beyond the reach of law enforcement.
Gold continues to enter the country illegally every month without payment of customs duties. Most of this gold is then allegedly smuggled into neighbouring countries.
Smuggling syndicates reportedly bring gold illegally from Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and several other countries. Despite the strict security arrangements at airports, criminal syndicates are allegedly bringing an average of 160 to 165 tonnes of gold into the country every year.
Officials from various government agencies have expressed concern over the failure to stop gold smuggling.
When asked about the matter, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said that security at the country's airports had been strengthened and the overall security system had been extensively reorganised.
He said airports are now being monitored using advanced technology. As a result, people attempting to bring gold into the country illegally are being detected and the gold is being seized.
The minister further said that gold smuggling existed in the past and continues to exist today, but that the scale of the problem has decreased compared with earlier periods.
He said some of those involved in Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Civil Aviation had been arrested, while others had been dismissed from their jobs.
“We are not sitting idle,” he said, adding that the relevant authorities were working strictly to prevent gold smuggling and trafficking.
Over the past five years, Customs, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other law enforcement agencies have recovered gold ornaments worth approximately Tk 5,000 crore from airports and various border areas across the country. A total of 541 cases were reportedly filed in connection with these incidents.
According to the overall statistics for the last five years, the Customs Department seized approximately 2,000 kilograms of gold, with an estimated market value of Tk 5,000 crore.
According to information from Customs and airport police, approximately 69.5 kilograms of gold were recovered from the country's major airports during the 2025–26 fiscal year. During the same period, 92 cases related to gold smuggling were filed across the country.
Dubai and Middle East-Based Expatriate Networks
The principal planning and financing of gold smuggling are allegedly carried out from Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia. CID money-laundering investigations have reportedly revealed that expatriates such as Masud Karim Rana, along with several shell or nominal importing companies, control international syndicates from Dubai.
In addition, several businesspeople in Chattogram and Dhaka, including individuals linked to the Abu Ahmed network identified in CID investigations, allegedly transfer crores of taka through the hundi system to finance gold consignments from the Middle East.
A large portion of gold bars illegally brought into the country through airports reportedly ends up with some dishonest bullion traders and buyers of illicit gold ornaments in Tantibazar in Old Dhaka.
They allegedly melt down the smuggled gold and supply it to the domestic market or remove foreign markings and create routes for smuggling the gold into India.
Reports by Customs Intelligence and the National Security Intelligence (NSI) have repeatedly indicated that some cabin crew members and cleaners of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other private airlines, Civil Aviation technicians and ground-handling staff are active members of these networks.
They allegedly help transport gold through airports by concealing it beneath aircraft seats, inside toilets or in cargo holds.
Influential smuggling networks in border areas such as Benapole, Chuadanga and Jhenaidah reportedly control the local networks used to transport gold into India by land.
Bangladesh is reportedly being used as a relatively safe transit route for international gold smuggling.
Gold consignments arrive by air from the Middle East—particularly Dubai and Jeddah—as well as Singapore and Malaysia, entering through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.
Gold is allegedly carried in a variety of ways, including concealed inside aircraft operating areas, hidden in different parts of the human body, in body cavities, customised belts and the soles of shoes, or converted into paste or liquid form and mixed with chemicals.
Approximately 80 per cent of the gold entering Bangladesh is allegedly smuggled into India through border routes.
Border points in Benapole in Jashore, Darshana in Chuadanga and Jhenaidah are reportedly used to move gold worth crores of taka into India every day.
Smugglers reportedly choose these routes because of India's high import duties on gold.
Financial transactions connected to gold smuggling are generally not conducted through conventional banking channels. Instead, hundreds of crores of taka are allegedly transferred through the hundi system between mafia networks based in Dubai and India.
CID Financial Crime investigations have reportedly found that the bank accounts of various shell or paper-based companies, including entities such as “Jaya Fashions,” have allegedly been used in attempts to legitimise illicit funds generated through smuggling and money laundering.
According to experts and legal officials, there are primarily three reasons why the main masterminds continue to evade prosecution.
First, most cases filed after gold is seized are registered under the Special Powers Act of 1947. In many cases, proceedings are not initiated under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, which would be necessary to trace the source of funds and identify the principal financiers. As a result, investigations often fail to reach the original sources of financing.
Second, when a seized consignment at an airport has no identifiable owner, it is often treated as “abandoned” and a case is filed against unidentified persons. This allows the actual masterminds to remain hidden.
Third, low-level couriers who are arrested generally do not reveal the names of the principal godfathers. According to investigators, this is because the syndicates allegedly provide financial support to their families and bear the expenses of their legal defence.
As a result, despite repeated seizures of gold, drugs and other illegal consignments, the low-level couriers continue to be arrested while the alleged masterminds and financiers operating behind the syndicates largely remain beyond the reach of law enforcement.